Idaho Public Utilities Commission Order of the Application of Centurytel of the Gem State - Idaho, Inc

(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 13 -- The Idaho Public Utilities Commission issued the following order:
In The Matter of the Application of Centurytel of the Gem State - Idaho, Inc. DBA Centurylink for Approval of its Interconnection Agreement With Centurylink Communications, LLC for the State of Idaho, Pursuant to 47 u.s.c. section 252(e)
In the Matter of the Application of Centurytel Of Idaho, INC. DBA Cfnturylink for Approval of Its Interconnection Agreement With Centurylink Communications, LLC for Tile State Of Idaho, Pursuant To 47 U.S.C. section 252(e)
In The Matter Of The Application Of Qwest Corporation DBA Centurylink QC Seeking Approval of Amendments to its Centurylink Local Service Platform (CLSP) Agreement With Dishnet Wireline, LLC Fka Liberty-Bell Telecoli, LLC Pursuant To 47 U.S.C. section 252(c)
In The Matter of the Application of Qwest Corpora [Ion, DBA Centurylink QC, Seeking Approval of Amendments to its Interconnection Agreement With Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Pursuant To 47 U.S.C. section) 252(e)
In these cases the Commission is asked to approve newly negotiated Interconnection Agreements and amendments to previously approved Interconnection Agreements. With this Order, the Commission approves the Interconnection ALreements and amendments to the Interconnection Agreements.

BACKGROUND
Under the provisions of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("the Act"), interconnection agreements, including amendments thereto, must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.S.C. section 252(e)(1). The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiations only if it finds that the agreement: (1) discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement; or (2) implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. 47 U.S.C. section 252(e)(2)(A).

As the Commission noted in Order No. 28427, companies voluntarily entering into interconnection agreements "may negotiate terms, prices and conditions that do not comply with either the FCC rules or with the provision of Section 25 1(b) or (c)." Order No. 28427 at 11 (emphasis in original). This comports with the FCC's statement that "a state commission shall have authority to approve an interconnection agreement adopted by negotiation even if the terms of the agreement do not comply with the requirements of [Part 51]." 47 C.F.R. section 51.3.

THE APPLICATION
1. CenturyTel of the Gem State -- Idaho, Inc. and CenturyLink Communications, LLC, Case No. CGS-T-14-02. On July 25, 2014, the Commission received the aforementioned Application seeking approval of the Interconnection Agreement between CenturyTel of the Gem State and CenturyLink Communications. The Application states that the Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations without resort to mediation or arbitration and submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Agreement sets out rates, terms and conditions for local interconnection, collocation, local resale, and purchase of Unbundled Network Elements (IJNE).

2. CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. and CenturyLink Communications, LLC, Case No. CEN-T-l4-02. On July 25, 2014, the Commission received the aforementioned Application seeking approval of the Interconnection Agreement between CenturyTel of Idaho and CenturyLink Communications. The Application states that the Agreement was reached through voluntary negotiations without resort to mediation or arbitration and submitted for approval pursuant to Section 252(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The Agreement sets out rates, terms and conditions for local interconnection, collocation, local resale, and purchase of UNE.

The original Agreement was approved by the Commission on October 20, 2010. See Order No. 32097. This CLSP amends the terms and conditions and extends the Agreement end date to December 31, 2015.

4. Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink OC and Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Case No. OWE-T-12-05. On July 16, 2014, CenturyLink submitted an Application to amend the Interconnection Agreement with FMTC originally approved by the Commission on August 1, 2012. See Order No. 32608. The parties seek Commission approval to add terms and conditions for Mid-Span Meet P01 (point of interface).

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff reviewed the Applications and does not find any terms or conditions that it considers to be discriminatory or contrary to the public interest. Staff believes that the Agreements are consistent with the pro-competitive policies of this Commission, the Idaho Legislature, and the federal Telecommunications Act. Accordingly, Staff recommended the Commission approve the Agreements and amendments.

COMMISSION DECISION
Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act, interconnection agreements, including amendments thereto, must be submitted to the Commission for approval. 47 U.S.C. section 252(e)(1). However, the Commission's review is limited. The Commission may reject an agreement adopted by negotiation jy if it finds that the agreement discriminates against a telecommunications carrier not a party to the agreement or implementation of the agreement is not consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. Id.

Based upon our review of the Applications and the Staff's recommendation, the Commission finds that the Agreements and amendments are consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity and do not discriminate. Therefore, the Commission finds that the Agreements should be approved. Approval of the Agreements does not negate the responsibility of either party to these Agreements to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity if they are offering local exchange services or to comply with Idaho Code section section 62-604 and 62-606 if they are providing other non-basic local telecommunications services as defined by Idaho Code section 62-603.

ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Interconnection Agreement between CenturyTel of the Gem State-Idaho, Inc. dba CenturyLink and CenturyLink Communications, LLC, Case No. CGS-T-14-02, is approved. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Interconnection Agreement between CenturyTel of Idaho, Inc. dba CenturyLink and CenturyLink Communications, LLC, Case No. CEN-T-14-02, is approved.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amendments to the CenturyLink Local Service Platform (CLSP) Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC, and dishNET Wireline, LLC fla Liberty-Bell Telecom, LLC, Case No. QWE-T-10-06, are approved.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amendments to the Interconnection Agreement between Qwest Corporation dba CenturyLink QC and Farmers Mutual Telephone Company, Case No. QWE-T-12-05, are approved.

THIS IS A FINAL ORDER. Any person interested in this Order (or in issues finally decided by this Order) may petition for reconsideration within twenty-one (21) days of the service date of this Order. Within seven (7) days after any person has petitioned for reconsideration, any other person may cross-petition for reconsideration. See Idaho Code section 61-626 and 62-6 19.

DONE by Order of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission at Boise, Idaho this /3day of August 2014.